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Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe was plunged into grief Thursday following the death of veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, roundly praised as a hero, champion of democracy and symbol of resistance who will be hard to replace.
The former trade union stalwart who posed the most formidable challenge to the ruling ZANU PF party’s nearly four-decade hold on power, died on Wednesday in a hospital in neighbouring South Africa where he was being treated for colon cancer.
The EU and its Member States are deeply saddened by the passing of Morgan Tsvangirai. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues in these difficult times. Read our full statement. pic.twitter.com/UNERDl9kfh
— EU in Zimbabwe (@euinzim) February 15, 2018
He was 65.
Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa lauded his party’s arch-rival as “a strong trade unionist and opposition leader” and vowed free elections in honour of Tsvangirai who was assaulted, jailed and humiliated under his ZANU-PF government.
“We remember him for his insistence on free, fair and peaceful elections which we must validate in the forthcoming” elections “in tribute to him and to our democracy,” said Mnangagwa.
“This we owe him as political leaders of all contesting parties in our country which deserves unfettered peace and stability,” he said.
Tsvangirai’s death firmly places Mnangagwa, the ZANU PF veteran who took over after ousting veteran ruler Robert Mugabe, on the path to victory in elections that are to be held before July.
Infighting over who will succeed Tsvangirai is threatening to tear his opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party apart.
– Symbol of resistance –
One of his three deputies Nelson Chamisa said in a post on twitter that the demise of Tsvangirai “is a huge blow to the party and the nation. As a party of excellence, we will unite, be disciplined and honour our hero”.
I have learnt of the passing of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai with deep sorrow. Morgan dared to dream of democracy, freedom and justice for his country and his people despite the firm hands of dictatorship that held sway. pic.twitter.com/zQJpCLc8pt
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) February 15, 2018
David Coltart, a fellow opposition leader said Tsvangirai will be remembered as “one of Zimbabwe’s greatest patriots” and that he deserves to be called a “hero”.
Mnangagwa and his deputy retired General Constantino Chiwenga said officials were talking to Tsvangirai’s family to see how the government could give him a “befitting honour”.
Mnangagwa said he will remember Tsvangirai “especially for his readiness to stretch and reach out across the political divide for a government of national unity after the polarising 2008 election”.
“A Mountain Has Fallen” was the headline in the privately-owned daily The Daily News.
